20 jailed, 17 sought in copper-theft bust
Lindsay Ruebens | lruebens@pnj.com
May 9, 2012
Twenty suspects are in jail and 17 more are wanted in connection with a string of copper thefts and burglaries in Escambia County.
After a lengthy investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office issued more than 100 warrants for 37 people, said Lt. Ray Briggs, a lead investigator.
Of those, 27 are accused in connection with metal burglaries and 10 are suspected in burglaries that were loosely connected with the metal thefts.
Charges ranged from felony grand theft and dealing in stolen property to unarmed burglary and petty theft.
"I think we've shut down at least one group for good," Briggs said.
Copper theft is an increasing problem across Escambia County, as its value has risen to about $3.69 per pound, he said.
"There's a low probability of being caught and terrific returns," Sheriff David Morgan said at a news conference on Tuesday at the Sheriff's Office.
Briggs estimated that 10 feet of 1-inch diameter copper tubing could be sold for $20 in scrap yards.
"And that's a conservative estimate," he said.
He said one suspect, Lisa Darlene Wilson, 29, is accused of making more than $12,000 by selling to four scrap yards in the Pensacola area. Wilson is in Escambia County Jail.
The operation was initiated by neighbors who reported houses that were burglarized, Morgan said.
Investigators reportedly found stolen metal at scrap yards and tracked down the people who sold it. Once people were arrested, they implicated others.
"They'd start spilling the beans, and we'd start connecting the dots," said Sgt. Patrick Frazier, a property crime investigator. "Sometimes they'd get in cars with us and show us the places they used to hit."
Briggs said investigators focused on West Pensacola neighborhoods like Montclair, where several burglaries were reported.
"But downtown, East Hill, Northeast Pensacola, all over -- anybody that's got an air conditioner has got a good chance of it getting stolen," he said.
Investigators also uncovered two fraud schemes at Southern Scrap and Wise Recycling that involved scrap yard employees adjusting weights so that people selling stolen metal would receive more money than they should, he said.
The sellers then would split the money with the employees.
Morgan said the scrap yards have cooperated with the Sheriff's Office.
"They're required by law to keep certain records and share them with us," he said. "They're victims also in this crime."
Jeff Rogers, a spokesman for Gulf Power Co., stressed the dangers of stealing copper from power poles and from electric equipment.
"Lots of times, people will steal copper ground wire off of poles, and if we don't know it's been taken, it can cause a safety hazard for our crews," he said. "And all sorts of people have been killed trying to steal electrical equipment. It's very dangerous."
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Originally Posted by drozenski
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